New Zealand's head coach Ian Foster (left) watches Sevu Reece during New Zealand's captains run at Sky Stadium in Wellington, New Zealand on July 15, 2022, one day out from the third rugby Test match between New Zealand and Ireland. Photo: AFP

All Blacks coach Ian Foster said Thursday that New Zealand will need to play without fear against Argentina in Hamilton on Saturday to avenge their shock defeat last weekend and prevent the humiliation of losing a fourth successive home Test.

The under-fire Foster surprised critics by naming the same starting players who lost 25-18 in Christchurch as the Pumas made history with their first victory over the All Blacks in New Zealand.

Argentina coach Michael Cheika made four changes to his side, who he still labelled as "underdogs," despite successive victories over Australia and New Zealand that took them top of the Rugby Championship table.

"For those that want blood, I guess we haven't given it have we?" Foster said, explaining he doesn't want his players to feel their places are constantly under threat after four defeats in six Tests in 2022.

"If you play under fear, you restrict your options, you restrict your thinking and what actually happens is you don't get your game going," Foster said.

"We believe the best way to build confidence in those pressure moments is put the guys out there who have just been through it, have felt it."

Foster has overhauled his bench, recalling 298 caps worth of experience through hooker Dane Coles, lock Brodie Retallick, flanker Dalton Papali'i and fly-half Beauden Barrett.

Cheika dropped his lone Christchurch try-scorer, flanker Juan Martin Gonzalez, to the bench along with lock Matias Alemanno, wing Lucio Cinti and scrum-half Gonzalo Bertranou.

Forwards Santiago Grondona and Matias Alemanno are recalled, along with experienced back Tomas Cubelli and Santiago Cordero.

Cheika laughed off suggestions that the Pumas would start as favorites, with last week's historic result following a 48-17 dismantling of Australia in San Juan.

"Mate, we're in New Zealand, playing against New Zealand," he said. "I know that you guys like to maneuver the story around, but we're about as underdog as you get."

"There's absolutely no benefit for any of us to think about anything like that," though he conceded that Ireland's successive wins in July "gives us some hope."

AFP